Transportation

It’s been more than two years since the state vowed to build a road around Charlottesville - allowing truckers and travelers headed for DC or Danville, Lynchburg or Northern Virginia to avoid local congestion. Environmentalists have fought the plan at every turn. Now, with a new governor set to take office, opponents are hoping for a permanent road block, and for many reasons, they might get their way.

In an effort to reduce accidents and fatalities on our roadways, this week has been designated Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, because apparently many of us have a hard time keeping our eyes open, when behind the wheel.

So how often have you taken a long drive, say for vacation or for a business trip, only to find that you’re not quite as alert as you’d hoped? Struggling to stay awake at times.

It’s been more than 30 years since there has been passenger train service to Roanoke, but plans are underway to bring it back.

A new transit station is in the early planning stages. But a lot has changed since the hey day of passenger rail service in the Star City and a new station will have to bring many forms of transit together. A team from Virginia Tech will present design concepts for a new multi modal transit station to city and transit officials.

When the Virginia General Assembly approved new transportation funding this year, it also allocated 2-and-a-half billion dollars more than VDOT's previous six-year transportation improvement plan. That is allowing the agency to focus aggressively on some badly needed construction projects statewide to relieve congestion, make repairs, and build new lanes. But it will also mean some headaches for motorists traveling on some of the busiest stretches of Virginia.